The clinical presentation of traction alopecia varies widely. Common symptoms include:
- Itching
- Redness
- Scaling
- Folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) or pustules
- Multiple short broken hairs
- Thinning and hair loss
Traction alopecia primarily affects the frontal and temporal regions of the scalp. A typical sign is the “fringe sign,” where some hair is retained along the hairline’s rim. Initially, the condition is non-scarring (non-cicatricial), but prolonged tension can lead to permanent hair loss due to hair follicle destruction.
